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07/30/2012 11:33 AM

Chipotle Doubles Use of Local Produce

SustainableBusiness.com News

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG), a pioneer in using
organic produce in fast food, served 10 million pounds of locally grown vegetables
last year.

That's double the 5 million pounds it sourced in 2009,
when Chipotle committed to buying more ingredients from local, family-owned
farms within 350 miles of its restaurants.

Depending on the location, Chipotle's strategy covers
bell peppers, red onions, jalapenos, oregano and romaine lettuce used in
salsas, salads and fajitas (among other menu items). In Florida and California,
the company also buys local tomatoes; in California, the program covers lemons
and avocados.

"Supporting local farms continues to be important to us,"
says Steve Ells, founder, chairman and co-CEO of Chipotle. "Food that is
locally grown is fresher and better tasting, and supports local farm
communities around the country. Making local food accessible is an important
part of our commitment to providing better food, from more sustainable sources.
It is a key element in our effort to change the way people think about and eat
fast food."

Research from Mintel suggests more than half (52%) of
U.S. consumers believe it’s more important to buy local produce than organic
options.

Last year, Chipotle's 1,300 restaurants used 3.6 million
pounds of locally sourced bell peppers, more than 400,000 pounds of jalapenos,
2 million pounds of red onions, 4.7 million pounds of romaine lettuce, and more
than a combined 300,000 pounds of cilantro and oregano.

Aside from its local sourcing commitment, Chipotle is
working with Food Alliance-certified growers to source beans cultivated with
conservation tillage methods that reduce soil erosion. It sources 100 percent
of its meat from animals that are naturally raised (the animals are never given
antibiotics or added hormones), and is increasing purchases of milk from
pasture-raised dairy cattle for its cheese and sour cream.

"Finding local suppliers to meet our needs is
challenging, but very much worth the effort," says Ells.

Chipotle is also a pioneer in renewable energy and green
building design. The company has installed or is installing solar at least 75
restaurants. It also was the first restaurant to receive LEED Platinum
certification (the highest level) from the U.S. Green Building Council for its
Gurnee, Ill., location. Among other things, the restaurant features an on-site
wind turbine and an underground cistern that captures rainwater for irrigation.